Qingqing didn’t catch his words at first, looking at him in bewilderment and panic, not knowing how to react. “I only pity your background, similar to mine, hoping to have someone to talk to in the palace. But now that you’re leaving, there’s no need for pretense. But I don’t want you to feel indebted to me, thinking you owe me and develop other feelings.” He paused, a hint of disdain in his eyes, toying with his fan in the cold weather, and continued, “All my past kindnesses to you need not be considered as such.” Qingqing went from surprise to confusion, and then her eyes became blurry with tears. She only liked someone who was kind to her, though perhaps it was a bit premature. But he had clearly and explicitly rejected her. Suddenly, her fingers turned unusually cold, and a bitter smile spread across her lips: “Then why did you ask me to marry you?” The Fourth Prince looked at her with a playful expression, as if a rogue from the marketplace was seeing a fairy: “You didn’t take my words seriously, did you?” Qingqing said, “I know you didn’t mean it.” The Fourth Prince suddenly turned sincere and serious: “I meant it.” Seeing the surprise and confusion on Qingqing’s face, he burst into laughter, seemingly delighted, “But think about it, if I really married someone even more pitiful than myself, wouldn’t it make me seem less pitiful?”
Hot tears could no longer be held back and rolled down her cheeks, yet Qingqing tried to stay composed. After pondering for a while, she reluctantly bowed and said word by word, “The Fourth Prince is a noble prince of our great dynasty, how could he compare himself to a lowly subject like me using the word ‘pitiful’?” Seeing the Fourth Prince’s expression change, Qingqing continued, “Today we part ways, and I wish the Fourth Prince all the best in the future.” She looked at him carefully one last time before turning away decisively, forcing herself to swallow the tears. Perhaps she was still young and didn’t understand if this was love between a man and a woman, but what was this pain in her heart? What was this suppressed sobbing? She forced herself to smile, not minding if she could manage it. Li Qin and the others, observing their expressions, understood a bit of what was going on. Li Qin didn’t speak, just glared fiercely at the Fourth Prince.
Chapter 82: Qingqing Leaves the Palace
Then, addressing Minister Lin, he said, “Minister Lin, for my sake, do not punish Qingqing when you get back.” A flicker of displeasure flashed across Minister Lin’s face, thinking, how can an outsider interfere in the affairs of my household? He was about to speak when he saw a eunuch running towards them, shouting, “Minister Lin, wait a moment!” The eunuch, without catching his breath, whispered something into Minister Lin’s ear, causing him to look surprised. After the eunuch left, Minister Lin said to Li Qin, “I thank the Crown Prince for his concern for Qingqing; I will not make things difficult for her.”
While Li Qin was talking to Minister Lin, Yuzhen quietly pulled the dazed Qingqing aside and asked what had happened. Qingqing just shook her head, not saying much. Yuzhen gently said, “Is there some misunderstanding with the Fourth Prince? Once you both calm down, I’ll help you make peace.” Qingqing suddenly gave a cold smile, seemingly noncommittal.
The sun was just rising, shyly like a new bride stepping out. The golden sunlight poured down, crisscrossing the blue-gray clouds into a beautiful tapestry, warming the people below. It infused the cold, monotonous palace walls with color. Qingqing looked at the freshly washed sky, her voice calm and serene: “The sun rises in the east while rain falls in the west, it’s not supposed to be sunny, yet it is.” Yuzhen watched her desolate silhouette, her shoulders trembling slightly, not knowing why she suddenly felt this way, just following her gaze into the distance…
After a long time, Qingqing slowly turned back, now wearing her usual indifferent smile, and bowed to Li Qin, saying with a laugh, “Qingqing will take her leave now. If I have offended the Crown Prince in the past, please forgive me.” Li Qin had been feeling downcast, but seeing Qingqing’s radiant smile, he felt the farewell wasn’t so sad. Perhaps she wasn’t beautiful, but her health, purity, and a sort of otherworldly elegance were like the tuberose, pure and radiant. Thus, sometimes, a woman’s smile can be a powerful weapon.
Li Qin shook off his sadness, adopting his usual playful demeanor, then mimicked Yuzhen’s tone from earlier, “Thankfully, it won’t be hard for us siblings to meet again in the future.” Yuzhen and the other maids couldn’t help but giggle.
Chapter 83: The Change in the Third Lady
Qingqing: “Then I look forward to meeting the Crown Prince and Miss Chen again.” They exchanged a few more words before a servant came to urge that Minister Lin was waiting in the carriage. Qingqing took Yuzhen’s hand, smiling radiantly. Only when she was about to get into the carriage did she glance back at the Fourth Prince. His eyes seemed conflicted, but Qingqing didn’t notice.
At the entrance of the Lin mansion, the Second, Third, and Seventh Ladies, along with a group of servants, were waiting to welcome Minister Lin home from court. The astute Lin steward had already prepared the meal and was waiting in the flower hall. The usual excitement of waiting had turned into surprise today because Minister Lin and Miss Lin had returned together in the same carriage, and there was not a hint of reluctance or dissatisfaction on Minister Lin’s face. No one knew why, and no one dared to ask.
After Qingqing returned, Minister Lin indeed did not make things difficult for her, as the Crown Prince had suggested, and even her and her mother’s meals seemed to improve, with two additional guards suddenly appearing at the gate. Mama Hong was always clicking her tongue in wonder, marveling at the change.
Since then, the Third Lady’s demeanor seemed to change significantly, reverting to the gentle, kind woman she once was. Why? Because of Qingqing. That day, as soon as Qingqing sat down in the eastern wing, the Third Lady saw servants coming and going, bringing gifts and medicines, but she held back her temper in front of others. Once they were alone, she confronted Qingqing with a stern face, asking what was going on. Qingqing didn’t dare tell the whole story, only saying she had inadvertently offended the Emperor. The Third Lady’s face grew increasingly stern, trying to sound fierce: “Then why did you fall into the pond that day? Was it because you offended the Crown Prince and got punished by the Emperor?” Qingqing just kept shaking her head, not speaking.
“If you won’t talk, go back to the palace,” the Third Lady said, annoyed, interrupting her meaningless sobs. Qingqing looked at her timidly and hesitantly said, “I went to pick up the jade bracelet you gave me, and I accidentally fell in.” The Third Lady was momentarily surprised but quickly moved on. She was about to ask something when Mr. Liu arrived.
Chapter 84: The Bracelet Picked Up at All Costs
